Like most businesses in Oklahoma, restaurants and bars are feeling the impact of COVID-19. Ever since they saw their doors closed due to the spread of the disease, owners and managers across the state have been waiting to hear when they will get the word to reopen again for full service.
However, not all of them seem to agree on just when that should be or under what conditions.
For David Foxx, Chief Operating Officer of Ted’s Cafe Escondido, the entire situation is frustrating because it’s not in his hands.
“I have many thoughts on this subject, but I will try to keep it related to reopening our businesses and economy,” Foxx said. “The most frustrating thing for a person with multiple locations across Oklahoma is there is no single leadership outlet that will make a decision. City mayors are deciding what’s best and that’s proving to be different across the board. You have to plead your case multiple times in different cities, and that’s going to prove to be a chaotic platform for reopening anything.”
With 10 locations across the state, Foxx has had to pay attention to multiple city governments as far as what their plans are. That includes Lawton, where he has one Ted’s franchise at 3807 NW Cache Rd.
Because of that, Foxx is worried his restaurants could have different guidelines under which they can reopen.
“You will have a city still under strict close mandates, while a few miles down the road, other cities will be reopened,” Foxx said. “I have a fear that restaurants will be singled out and have strict seating limitations. This will prove costly and won’t allow these businesses to earn the income needed to pay for their rents. If you rely on filling your 7,000-sq ft restaurants during peak times, dinner and lunch rushes, and that income is cut in half, it will be a challenge to get sales volumes at a level needed to cover your costs.”
One of the guidelines that has been speculated on includes restaurants and bars only allow- ing a certain number of customers inside at a time. Foxx says that may work for smaller establishments, but it could be hard for a business model like Ted’s.
“Fifty percent capacity might not work for every restaurant. We have built our business models on a certain level of capacity,” Foxx said. “But what if we limit our capacity to 50 percent and have a line out our doors? Our average table turns during lunch is 24 minutes and 37 minutes for dinner. Are people safer standing in a line?”
Last week there were back to work rallies in several states across the country. That includes Oklahoma in which a line of cars drove from Penn Square Mall to the Capitol building to show support for Gov. Kevin Stitt to get the economy back on its feet by reopening businesses.
“We do not buy the lie that Oklahomans must choose between working or keeping our most vulnerable citizens safe,” OK Back 2 Work stated on their Facebook page. “That is a false dichotomy. We believe we can do both and we call on the Governor, mayors and county commissioners to support Oklahomans in safely returning to work. Our communities are suffering, our citizens are hurting, and lives are being ruined due to the shutdown and having been designated “non-essential.” All people, jobs and businesses are essential because without them, Oklahoma families will not be able to thrive or survive this crisis. It is our responsibility as citizens to preserve the economic livelihoods of the tens of thousands of unemployed Oklahomans.”
Foxx seems to be of the same mindset that it’s time to get back to work but wants to do it safely.
“I read the governor saying they will reopen their states when science tells them they can. That makes for a great sound bite, but what if science doesn’t tell you that for a year...or two... or never? Are we supposed to stay locked up inside our homes, with our business closed and failing, and not earn a living for months?” Foxx asked. “What happens when the foreclosures begin, and mass homelessness starts? What happens when cities and municipalities run out of money and can no longer pay their teachers and first responders?
“We have to learn to function as a society with the reality that COVID-19 is not going away and we simply cannot afford to lock our- selves away and shut down,” Foxx continued. “People have to be able to earn a living and pay their bills and provide food for their families.”
In Lawton, some businesses were able to reopen last week. However, restaurants were not included.
There has been no official word on when exactly Ted’s or any eatery will be able to be fully operational. However, whenever that day does come, Foxx said his establishments will be able to do it in a safe manner for his customers and his staff.
“I would open my restaurants tomorrow if the mandates were lifted, in as safe as a manner of possible to operate profitably,” Foxx said. “I am securing disposable masks for my employees to wear when that happens. Not the highly sought-after medical masks the hospitals need, but a way to limit person-to-person contact. We have always had strict cleaning and sanitation practices in place and would continue to execute those daily as well as continue with our normal regime of handwashing practices that have always existed. We will bring condiments and other items to each table after they are sanitized.”
The staff at Ted’s has always worn gloves when they wrap the silverware but there are many other precautions that Foxx said are common-sense safety measures in this post-COVID world, these include eliminating shared condiments and napkin holders. Foxx acknowledged COVID-19 has changed the industry. How business was done before the shutdown will no longer be acceptable.
“Restaurant owners are going to have to be proactive in ensuring that there aren’t shared utensils, common use napkin dispensers and such,” Foxx said. “But society will also have to take personal responsibility for their health. I think Social Distancing is here to stay for the foreseeable future. I also think wearing masks will become very common.”